The reconstruction of the Iowa-Wisconsin Lansing Bridge reached a key milestone on June 12 as the new 220-foot-long structure was lifted into place. The one-day operation brings the $140 million project one step closer to restoring the only crossing along a 70-mile, largely rural stretch of the Mississippi River.
Weighing nearly 1.8 million pounds, the steel light was assembled on two 55-by-120-foot deck barges about 1,500 feet upstream from the bridge site, where Kraemer North America has been working since October 2023 to replace the original 1930s structure that was demolished late last year after it was deemed too new and too wide. The 1,724-foot-long successor was complete. The removal inconvenienced area motorists, but freed Kraemer to proceed virtually without interruption to erect piles for the new bridge’s concrete piers and to erect steel lights from both sides of the river.
After being floated into position with the help of a tug, the span was prepared for its vertical elevation of 64 feet above the main river navigation channel using a rope grip system provided by Structural Technologies. The system consisted of four sets of 22 0.6-inch, 270-ksi back tension wires, each set driven by a 330-ton hydraulic jack.
The lifting process took nearly 12 hours, says Clayton Burke, Iowa Department of Transportation project manager, because of generator problems that required replacement with backup units.
“There were several screws that had to be removed and replaced with recessed pins to allow the center section to slide into place,” he adds. “Kraemer did an excellent job designing the solution and working with the entire team to implement it safely.”
The lengthy lifting process did not deter dozens of recreational boaters on the water, as they watched the construction activity. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the US Fish and Wildlife Service made sure they stayed a safe distance away.
“The months of planning and preparation paid off as the lift was successfully completed with only a few minor hurdles to overcome,” says Burke.
The remaining tasks on the replacement project, scheduled for completion in the spring, include connecting the end members of the steel truss, pouring the concrete bridge deck, completing road reconstruction work and installing guardrails, lighting and painting. The last three remaining piers of the original bridge will be demolished this winter and the dolphins, pier walls and siding will be removed.
Federal funding covers about 80 percent of the project’s cost, with the balance split evenly between Iowa and Wisconsin.
